BarrieToday welcomes letters to the editor at [email protected]. Please include your daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). The following letter is from Pekka Reinio, who was the NDP candidate in Barrie-Innisfil during the recent federal election.
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In the recent federal election campaign, many were eager to choke off all foreign aid funding provided by Canada to the international community. This would be a critical mistake.
Foreign aid is crucial in helping developing nations withstand natural disasters, climate change, and now COVID-19.
Without foreign-aid support, developing countries will face continued devastation which will in turn cause chaos within countries, uncontrolled migration, the continued re-emergence of COVID-19, and the introduction of other possible pandemics.
Developing countries need the support of G20 countries to build infrastructure, strengthen health-care systems, and dampen outbreaks to prevent wide spread deaths regionally and internationally.
In the past, Canadians had taken pride in leading the way to support developing nations. In recent years, however, both Liberal and Conservative governments have fallen short of living up to Canada's historic role as a global leader in supporting international development.
By bolstering our foreign-aid commitment and encouraging other G20 countries to follow suit, this is our opportunity to shine on the world stage, do what is right and build the basis of a healthier and more stable planet.
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